Rousseau and the Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar
Rousseau and the Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar
This chapter examines Jean-Jacques Rousseau's confrontation with the question of the right life, with faith's demand for obedience and the promises of religion, in Profession de foi du Vicaire Savoyard (Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar). Profession de foi occupies a special place in Rousseau's œuvre. It found its permanent place in the fourth book of Émile, where it shows how an homme vulgaire can be instructed in matters of religion, in accord with reason, corresponding to his nature, and taking into account historical circumstances. This chapter considers the belief that the Vicar's profession of faith is the profession of faith of Rousseau, that Rousseau and the Vicar are of one mind, that both pursue essentially the same end. It also discusses the Vicar's views about truth, the right life, the philosophic life, God, Natural Religion, faith in revelation, and, revealed religions. It argues that the Natural Religion of the Vicar is fundamentally different from Rousseau's Natural Theology.
Keywords: right life, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, faith, Profession de foi du Vicaire Savoyard, Émile, philosophic life, God, Natural Religion, revealed religions, Natural Theology
Chicago Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
